Blender-pump

ABSTRACT

Interleaving vanes on relatively rotating opposed discs blend viscous fluids. The vanes are also inclined to pump the fluid centripetally to a discharge orifice near the axis of rotation.

tates ate :1

[72] Inventor Wil Edward Holland [56] References Cited 21 A I N 533 :3 UNITED STATES PATENTS f 196% 2,478,893 8/1949 Brant 259 7 x [45] Patented 3,218,040 11/1965 Richter..... 259/23 [73] Assign Momlzlmcomy 3,253,300 5/1966 Gove etal 259/9X SR Louis Mo 3,256,987 6/1966 lsenhardtet a1. 259/8 X FOREIGN PATENTS 82,655 9/1956 Netherlands 259/8 [54] HUENDEWPIUMP Primary Examiner-James 1(ee Chi 3 swims 4 Drawing 8% Attorneys-Kelly O. Corley and Stanley M. Tarter 152 11.9.1121 259 1 [51] 11111111. 1C1 H0lli7/20, AlESTRAlCT: interleaving vanes on relatively rotating op- B29b 1/06 posed discs blend viscous fluids. The vanes are also inclined to [50] Field ollrch 259/7, 8,9,

pump the fluid centripetally to a discharge orifice near the axis 23, 74,43, 44, 107, 108 ofrotation.

PAIENTED SEP new SHEET 1 OF 2 INVENTOR. WILLIAM EDWARD HOLLAND ATTORNEY PATENED SEP 7 1971 365135 3 sum 2 BF 2 FIG. 3.

INVENTOR. WILLIAM EDWARD HOLLAND ATTORNEY BLENDER-PUMP The invention relates to apparatus for continuously blending vi cous fluids. More particularly, it relates to such apparatus wherein the blending is combined with a centripetal pumping action.

The difficulty of blending viscous fluids increases rapidly with fluid viscosity. Occasions arise when it is necessary to achieve rapid blending, such as when oheof the components degrades due to heat or the like. An environment of this type occurs in blending materials into molten polymers. It has been discovered that the desired rapid blending can be accomplished by interleaving vanes on relatively rotating members as disclosed below.

Accordingly, a primary object of the invention is to provide apparatus for blending viscous fluids by interleaving vanes on relatively rotating members.

A further object is to provide apparatus of the above character wherein the vanes are oriented to pump the fluids centripetally.

A further object is to provide apparatus of the above character wherein the blending apparatus is self-feeding.

Other objects will in part appear hereinafter and will in part be obvious from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a fragmentary vertical sectional view of exemplary melt spinning apparatus incorporating the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 in FIG. 1, showing the orientation of the vanes;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. I, showing the fins atop the rotating disc;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 2, showing the direction of polymer flow which results in the desired mixing.

Referring generally to FIG. 1, polymer flake is fed into the top of the apparatus into contact with heated fins within block 22. The molten polymer drips from the bottom of fins 20 and falls to form a melt pool having a normal liquid level indicated at 24. A second fluid or other material is added to the melt pool through line 26 for blending in the molten polymer by blending apparatus indicated generally at 28. A distribution pump 30 is positioned at the bottom of block 22, to forward the blended material through line 32 to metering pump 34. The metered output of metering pump 34 is fed through line 36 to later apparatus (not shown). As is conventional, the later apparatus may include filters, spinneret orifices, and the like.

Blending apparatus 28 includes a lower stationary plate 38 mounted in block 22 atop pump 30, and a cooperating rotary plate 40. Fluid passages 42 extend from the upper surface near the center of plate 38 to the inlet passages of distribution pump 30, on opposite sides of the axis of distribution pump shaft 44. As best shown in FIGS. I and 2, a first plurality of up standing vanes 46 is fixedly mounted on the upper planar surface 48 of plate 38. Vanes 46 have their centers positioned on a circle at a radius Rll from the axis ofthe shaft 44.

The lower end of stub shaft 50 (FIG. I) is journaled in plate 36 coaxial with shaft 44, and is keyed to drive shaft 44. The upper end of the stub shaft 50 is rigidly attached to plate 40, which is supported thereby for rotation about the axis of shaft 44. The upper end of drive shaft 52 is driven by a motor (not shown), while the lower end of shaft 52 is keyed to the center of plate 40. Shaft 52, which is coaxial with shafts 44 and 50, thus drives plate and pump 30. Plate 40 rotates with its planar lower surface opposed to upper surface 48 of plate 38, there being a small clearance above the upper edges of vanes 46. A second plurality of vanes 54 are rigidly attached to the lower surface of plate 40 and have their centers at a radius R2 from the axis of shaft (FIG. 2), radius R2 being less than radius Rll. Similarly, a third plurality of vanes 56 are rigidly attached to the lower surface of plate 40 with their centers at a radius R3 from the axis of shaft 50, radius R3 being greater than radius RI. Vanes 56 and 54 extend downwardly to points near surface48.

The opposed surfaces of plates 38 and 40 preferably from surfaces of revolution about the axis of rotation of plate 40. These opposed surfaces are disclosed above as planar. How ever, one or both can be conical, spherical, or other configuration.

Vanes 54 and 56 pass on opposite sides of fixed vanes 46 as plate 40 rotates, the dimensions of the vanes being selected so that the outer edges of vanes 54 and the inner edges of vanes 56 pass the respective nearest edges of vanes 46 with a small clearance. This clearance, and the clearance between the vanes on either plate and the opposed surface of the other plate, is about one-sixteenth inch. Since in this embodiment plates 38 and 40 are axially spaced about onehalf inch, vanes 46 accordingly interleave among (overlap, as viewed from the axis of shaft 50) vanes 54 and 56 by about three-eights inch.

The FIGS. l and 2 embodiment for simplicity of illustration shows only three sets of vanes (that is, vanes 46, 54, and 56). However, further alternating sets of stationary and rotating vanes can be provided if desired. Thus FIG. 4 illustrates a portion of blending apparatus having adlded sets of stationary vanes 58 and rotating vanes 60. The number of such alternating sets chosen for a given application will depend on the viscosities of the fluids involved, the available space, the thoroughness of blending desired, throughput rate, and other similar considerations. Other factors being equal, increasing the number of vanes promotes more thorough blending.

The vanes are advantageously inclined with respect to a radius from the axis of the shaft 50, to provide a centripetal pumping action. This feeds the viscous fluid mixture to the fluid passages 42, and materially contributes to the efficiency of blending. Preferably, the vanes are increasingly inclined with respect to a radius as the radial distance from the axis increases.

The blending action is illustrated in FIG. 4, wherein the arrows represent the directions of fluid flow. A portion of the fluid propelled by the inner portion or trailing edge of vane 56 is deflected by vane 46 to flow in a more nearly radial direction, as indicated by arrow 62:. This portion then is directed at a large angle against the portion being propelled by the outer or leading edge of vane 54, the direction of flow of this latter portion being indicated by arrow 64. Good mixing is obtained in the region where the flow converge. Similar interaction occurs with the fluid propelled by the trailing portion of vane 60 and that propelled by the leading portion of vane 56.

In the apparatus as thus far described, the fluid intake is at the peripheries of plates 38 and 40. To insure a supply of fluid in this region, a plurality of upstanding fins 66 are provided on the upper surface of plate 40; that is, on the surface opposite the surface on which vanes 54, S6 and 60 are mounted. Fins 66 preferably spiral outwardly with their outer edges 68 trailing their inner edges 70, to pump the liquid centrifugally outwardly to the periphery of plate 40.

While the invention has been specifically disclosed and illustrated as applied to a melt grid, it is also applicable to other apparatus, such as at the outlet of continuous polymerizers. The invention has been successful in finely dispersing into nylon-66 polymer the waxlike antistatic materials disclosed in US. Pat. Ser. No. 3,388,104, to Crovatt. However other viscous materials can be readily blendled according to the principles of the invention.

What is claimed is:

l. Blending apparatus, comprising:

a. a stationary member having a first surface b. a rotary member having a second surface opposed to said first surface;

c. a first plurality of vanes extending from said first surface toward said second surface;

d. second and third pluralities of vanes extending from said second surface toward said first surface, said second and third pluralities of vanes being positioned on said second surface so that said first plurality of vanes interleave between said second and third pluralities of vanes during rotation of said rotary member;

of said vanes are inclined to provide a centripetal pumping action.

3. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said second surface is on one side of said rotary member, and further comprising means, on the side of said rotating member, opposite said first surface, for pumping said viscous fluid to said third plurality of vanes. 

1. Blending apparatus, comprising: a. a stationary member having a first surface b. a rotary member having a second surface opposed to said first surface; c. a first plurality of vanes extending from said first surface toward said second surface; d. second and third pluralities of vanes extending from said second surface toward said first surface, said second and third pluralities of vanes being positioned on said second surface so that said first plurality of vanes interleave between said second and third pluralities of vanes during rotation of said rotary member; e. at least some of said vanes being inclined to provide a pumping action in a direction toward said second set of vanes when said rotary member is rotating; f. means for supplying a viscous fluid to said third plurality of vanes; g. means for withdrawing said fluid from said second plurality of vanes; h. and means for rotating said rotary member.
 2. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein at least some of said vanes are inclined to provide a centripetal pumping action.
 3. The apparatus defined in claim 1, wherein said second surface is on one side of said rotary member, and further comprising means, on the side of said rotating member, opposite said first surface, for pumping said viscous fluid to said third plurality of vanes. 